Health News

‘Renaming harmless cancers makes sense’

A reader recently asked me to explain what’s meant by ­overdiagnosis. I wasn’t ­surprised because it (and overtreatment) is the buzz word of the moment in medical circles. For the avoidance of doubt here’s the definition of overdiagnosis. It’s the ­diagnosis of a condition that, if ­unrecognised, wouldn’t cause symptoms or harm a patient. The […]

Health News

Brexit will affect the UK’s ability to tackle illicit drugs trade, warn experts: Exclusion from key EU agency ‘presents substantial risks to public health and safety’

Exclusion from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) because of Brexit will have serious consequences for public health in the UK, warn experts in a letter to The BMJ this week. The EMCDDA is responsible for conducting surveillance, establishing best practice, facilitating data exchange, providing leadership on new psychoactive substances, and […]

Health News

Hidden costs of cobalt mining in DR Congo

In past years, the demand for cobalt has been on the increase due to its many applications. For one thing, the metal is a crucial component of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for smartphones and electric cars. Around 60% of the world’s cobalt supply comes from the mineral-rich Katanga Copper belt, in the Democratic Republic of the […]

Health News

Social class and communication situation

Are people with more money and education dominating and less warm? A social-psychological study at Goethe University scrutinizes stereotypes. How is our behavior influenced by our social class? Sociology has long concerned itself with this question. Whether individuals grow up in a working-class environment or in an academic household, they take on behaviors that are […]